Immigrating to Taiwan

[aierlanren]

Every now and then the question of the status of short- and long-term resident foreign citizens in Taiwan comes up. Are such people "immigrants" or just "passing through" as they may themselves believe and many Taiwanese will assume?

I was interested to read the following in an Economist article on migration statistics:

"Who is an 'immigrant'? The United Nations has a simple definition: a short-term migrant is anyone who moves to a new country and stays from three months to a year; long-term, one who stays a year or more." The Economist 15 June 2002 p48

I've emigrated/immigrated without knowing it...

[Poagao]

I think a lot of it has to do with the way people see themselves. Most Westerners in Taiwan don't see themselves as "immigrants" but rather as "expatriates", i.e., sooner or later they will return to their own country. Perhaps this kind of thinking, historically speaking, has something to do with the reluctance most Taiwanese have with the concept of Western immigrants to Taiwan.

[Lord Lucan]

I am a Man of the World. Man.

[Hartzell]

Most Westerners in Taiwan don't see themselves as "immigrants" but rather as "expatriates", i.e., sooner or later they will return to their own country.

I don't think that this is the way that most westerners in Taiwan see themselves.

However, it is the way that the Ministry of the Interior sees westerners. Hence, according to the Nationality Law, foreigners must renounce original nationality before obtaining Taiwan nationality.

The question arises: Would it ever be possible to have such a legal stipulation changed? I would be interested in general comments from the community.

[Poagao]

Maybe this would be a good poll subject, i.e. "What do you see yourself as, a visitor, an expatriate, an immigrant?" etc.

[JGeer]

Or a colonialist? 8)

http://www.newsmax.com/showinsidecover. ... /17/230632

[formosa]

An immigrant is someone who has emigrated from his her home country, to become an immigrant. Most expats here not emigrate here, they just travelled here to work and live, and they are not immigrants. So have immigrated here on purpose and are longterm residents like Hartzell, but an real immigrant eventually renounces her his prior citizenship and takes on new nationality. I notice most longerms in Taiwan still hold on dearly to their native passports, so they are not immigrants. The only real "intending immigrant" here in Dan Jacobson I guess because he really wants to become a Taiwanese national but the government won't let him.

Even these long term missionaries here never give up their western passports, even though they talk in terms of "our Taiwan" and "we Taiwanese" but they are not really Taiwanese, just love Taiwan alot and have settled here as long time expats.

Problem is, Taiwan is NOT an immigrant country. it does not want or tolerate immigrants, except in extreme cases. Japan is same, Philippines is same, Vietnam is same, Thailand is same. Most Asian nations do not understand the concept of immigrants because who the eff would want to immigrate there when the Americfan Dream beckons in far off Wonderland UK USA OZ NZ SA Canada?

[JGeer]

Send the Mexican-American back "home"? Dual nationality is the norm and it is impossible to turn the clock back on this one.

[Poagao]

I notice most longerms in Taiwan still hold on dearly to their native passports, so they are not immigrants. The only real "intending immigrant" here in Dan Jacobson I guess because he relaly wants to become a taiwnese national but the government won't let him.

Even these long term missionaries here never give up their western passports, even though they talk in terms of "our Taiwan" and "we Taiwanese" but they are not really Taiwanese, just love Taiwan alot and have settled here as long time expats.

As far as I know Dan Jacobson, just like Hartzell and many others, could renounce US citizenship and gain Taiwan citizenship if desired. How is the government not letting them do this? Granted, it is difficult, but not impossible.

[JGeer]

How is the government not letting him do this?

American citizens in Taiwan must be colonialists, but not as immigrants?

And any of those rabid Taiwan diehards are mere conspiring separatists of the PRC "War on Terrorism"?

(1) the term ''international terrorism'' means activities that
-
(A) involve violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that
are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of
any State, or that would be a criminal violation if committed
within the jurisdiction of the United States or of any State;
(B) appear to be intended -
(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
(ii) to influence the policy of a government by
intimidation or coercion; or
(iii) to affect the conduct of a government by
assassination or kidnapping; and
(C) occur primarily outside the territorial jurisdiction of
the United States, or transcend national boundaries in terms of
the means by which they are accomplished, the persons they
appear intended to intimidate or coerce, or the locale in which
their perpetrators operate or seek asylum;
(2) the term ''national of the United States'' has the meaning
given such term in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act;

Think the PRC Embassy would bring civil lawsuit actions for any defined acts of the TI terrorists or the ROC governing authorities under TRA? Afterall, TECO sued Nigeria.